A fire on the Grimaldi Conro Grande Brasile prompted a rescue operation in the English Channel last week. The ship was towed to port on February 23, with the crew safe and the fire limited to a small area.
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The Grimaldi Conro Grande Brasile experienced a fire while in the English Channel.
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The crew was safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
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Four tugs from Multraship towed the vessel to Antwerp for salvage operations.
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Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway.
Incident Overview
On February 17, the Grimaldi Conro Grande Brasile, a 26,000 dwt vessel, reported a fire while navigating the English Channel. The crew’s initial attempts to extinguish the fire with the CO2 system failed, leading to the UK’s RNLI lifeboats getting involved. The situation worsened when a second fire broke out, causing the crew to abandon the ship into lifeboats. They were later rescued by one of the tugs and taken to safety.
Salvage Operations
Following the incident, authorities permitted salvage tugs to operate during daylight hours. Four tugs from the Dutch company Multraship—numbers 32, 33, 35, and 36—were deployed to tow the disabled vessel to Antwerp, where it was secured at the Euroterminal. Boskalis’ Smit unit was contracted to oversee the salvage operations.
Images from the scene revealed significant scorching on the vessel’s superstructure, particularly near the funnel. Blisters were visible on multiple decks. Fortunately, the fire was contained to a limited area of the ship, preventing further damage.
Investigation Underway
Grimaldi has indicated that while there are preliminary indications regarding the fire’s cause, they will refrain from speculation until a thorough investigation is completed. The Grande Brasile is known for transporting used cars and containers, and it was en route to West Africa at the time of the incident.
Salvage crews are expected to board the vessel now that it has returned to port to confirm that the fire has been fully extinguished. Inspectors will then begin their investigation into the origins of the fire.
Recent Developments
As of February 24, unconfirmed reports have emerged regarding another fire on a different Grimaldi vessel, the Grande Congo, which was transiting to Norfolk, Virginia. This vessel, with a deadweight tonnage of 47,600, has since docked in Norfolk after arriving from Spain.
Grimaldi has faced several fire incidents in recent years, including two significant fires in 2019 that prompted changes in hazardous cargo handling regulations. In 2023, another fire occurred in New Jersey, resulting in the tragic deaths of two local firefighters.
The company has pledged full cooperation with authorities as they investigate the fire aboard the Grande Brasile, emphasizing their commitment to safety and compliance in maritime operations.
Sources
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Fire Stricken Grimaldi Conro Towed to Port, The Maritime Executive.
